The cochlear implant aims to improve moderate to severe hearing loss. It is a small medical device for adults, children, and infants.
The cochlear implant is a good option for patients with receptive hearing loss from an inner ear injury. Many people who have undergone cochlear implants have reported improved hearing. What is this device, what are its components, and how does it work?
Definition of the cochlear implants
Unlike other hearing aids that amplify sound, the cochlear implant works by electrically stimulating the auditory nerve. This device consists of two main parts: internal and external.
The external part, the Transmitter, is installed behind the ear and is a microphone that receives and processes sounds coming to the ear and transmits them to the internal part of the device. The internal part, the Receiver, is implanted in the inner ear and generates electrical pulses that stimulate the auditory nerve, which transmits signals to the brain centers, activating the sense of hearing.
Although the brain will notice sounds, it is not quite the same as natural hearing. With proper training, a patient’s awareness of what they hear can be improved. The earlier the cochlear implant is inserted, the better the long-term results will be as the brain becomes more accustomed to the device.
Rehabilitation and speech therapy after cochlear implantation are essential to correctly interpreting these sounds. Of course, a cochlear implant is not suitable for everyone.
Cochlear implantation requirements
The cochlear implantation procedure is performed for patients with severe hearing loss in one or both ears. Patients who are candidates for the procedure must meet the following requirements:
- Severe hearing loss that affects verbal communication
- Not benefiting from external hearing aids
- The person must be motivated for rehabilitation and training after cochlear implantation
- Setting reasonable expectations for the postoperative period
- A treatable problem must not cause hearing loss
A medical audiologist and an ear, nose, and throat consultant can determine whether the device is suitable for you by conducting several examinations and imaging to learn about the anatomical structure of the ear and ensure that there are no medical or surgical obstacles that prevent the cochlear implantation procedure.
What is the difference between cochlear implants and external hearing devices?
Hearing aids or external hearing devices are medical devices for hearing loss that rely on the principle of amplifying sound and making it louder, and then transmitting it through the hearing ossicles in the middle ear to the cochlea in the inner ear. In addition, hearing aids are not surgically implanted; they are worn inside or behind the ear.
An external hearing aid is usually ideal if you have mild to moderate hearing loss. Some hearing aids may help with severe hearing loss but are not very helpful in understanding spoken speech. This is where a cochlear implant is the best option.
The basic principle of cochlear implants is to generate electrical impulses that stimulate the auditory nerve, not to amplify sound as with external hearing aids.
Benefits of cochlear implants
A cochlear implant can improve your quality of life if you have severe hearing loss. The benefits depend on the patient’s specific procedures and how well they fully implement the rehabilitation process.
With a cochlear implant, you may be able to:
- Hear different sounds, such as footsteps
- Understand speech without lip reading
- Hear voices on the phone
- Hear Music
- Watch TV without commentary
- For infants and young children, the device can help them learn how to speak
Disadvantages of cochlear implants
As mentioned earlier, the installation of the cochlear implant has both positives and negatives. Among the disadvantages of cochlear implants are:
- Having to remove the external component while showering or swimming
- The need to recharge the batteries regularly or use new batteries
- It is possible to lose the remaining natural hearing in the ear after the implant
- Damage to the device during sports activity or accidents
- Intensive rehabilitation to help you learn how to use the device
Risks of cochlear implants procedure
Cochlear implant surgery is generally a safe procedure. However, there are some potential risks, such as:
- Bleeding and swelling
- Ringing in the ear (tinnitus)
- Dizziness
- Infection at the surgical site
- Dry mouth due to facial nerve involvement
- Change in sense of taste
- Facial paralysis
- Balance problems
- Meningitis
- The need for surgery to remove the implant or repair a defective implant
The specific risks depend on your general health condition. It should be noted that cochlear implants do not restore normal hearing, and For some people, these procedures may not help at all.
How cochlear implants surgery is performed
If your doctors decide that you can benefit from a cochlear implant, they will explain what the procedure entails and schedule it, but in general, this is what usually happens:
- Before the surgery, you will be given general anesthesia to put you to sleep and not feel any pain.
- Once you are asleep, the surgeon will make an incision behind your ear and make a small incision in the mastoid bone.
- The electrodes will then be inserted through a small hole in the cochlea.
- The surgeon will then place the receiver behind your ear under the skin, attach it to the skull, and suture the incision.
In Turkey, robotic cochlear implantation has recently become possible, providing the highest possible chance of hearing recovery with minimal complications.
Once the surgery is complete, you will be taken to the recovery unit where you will wake up. You will then be closely monitored to make sure there are no side effects from the surgery, and you will usually be discharged a few hours after the surgery or the next day.
Before you leave the hospital, your healthcare professional will explain how to care for your incision, and you will have a follow-up appointment in about a week so your surgeon can check the wound and see how it is healing. The incision must heal before the cochlear implant can be activated.
About a month after surgery, your doctor will add the external components and activate the internal ones. Over the next two months, you will need to visit your doctor regularly for adjustments.
You will also need treatment called aural rehabilitation after cochlear implantation, which will help you improve your hearing and speech skills. This usually involves working with an audiologist or speech-language pathologist.
Cochlear implant surgery for children
Cochlear implants should be considered if developing a family’s language skills is very important for a young child with severe hearing loss.
Choosing a rehabilitation center after cochlear implantation is just as important as choosing the surgeon who will perform the surgery. The patient and family must also make a long-term commitment to learning how to listen after the cochlear implants are placed.
A program that provides weekly rehabilitation sessions after cochlear implantation by highly trained professionals specializing in listening and spoken language is the most important to achieve the desired outcome.
This is especially important for young children who must compete against time to develop listening and speaking skills early.
Many factors affect the development of a child’s listening and speaking language with a cochlear implant, including:
- Age and age-appropriate for cochlear implantation (younger is better)
- Level of hearing and speech-language before surgery
- Early rehabilitation with a consistent level and a language-rich home environment
Families should seek a professional team that provides a comprehensive surgical, hearing, and rehabilitation program that works with their educational and school choices.
Cochlear implants experiences
According to a study published in Pubmed, the majority of people with deafness rated their satisfaction with their cochlear implant as good or even very good. Satisfaction with cochlear implants in children did not differ from that in adults, and satisfaction was not related to the length of use.
Important Notes About Cochlear Implants in Turkey
If hearing aids (external hearing devices) cannot improve your hearing or speech, you may be a good candidate for a cochlear implant.
This device, which is surgically implanted in the cochlea, converts sounds into electrical impulses that your brain interprets. The specialist will use hearing tests and imaging tests to help determine whether it is suitable for you or not, as well as the level of your hearing loss.
After surgery, it is important to commit to auditory rehabilitation, as this is essential to improving hearing and using the cochlear implant successfully and correctly.
You can watch this video, which shows some patients and their reactions after the operation and the operation of the device.
The cost of cochlear implants surgery in Turkey
The price of a cochlear device in Turkey varies from one type to another, and the cost of a cochlear implant surgery varies from one center to another, but in general, the price of a cochlear implant in Turkey starts from 20 thousand US dollars.
Contact us to learn about the types of cochlear implants that suit you and the exact cost of cochlear implant surgery. We at Bimaristan Company provide you with the cheapest and best centers for cochlear implant surgery in Turkey/Istanbul. You can contact us 24 hours a day if you have any inquiries.
Finally, the cochlear implant surgery in Turkey gives you or your child the opportunity to regain the blessing of hearing, that great blessing that enables you to communicate with members of the community around you and perform your daily tasks yourself without the need for assistance, so that you can be an active member of society and contribute to its development.
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